Official Way to Install and Use Windows Vista without Activation for Free for 120 Days
By default, Windows Vista can be installed, used and run without any license, product key or the need of activation for 30 days grace period, for purpose of trial or evaluation. Although Microsoft initially stressed that users should purchase a license with valid product key before the trial period expires, or else Windows Vista will lock into Reduced Functionality Mode. However, a “rearm” method has long since been discovered to be able to extend, or reset the remaining time for activation to another fresh 30 days, for up to 3 times.
Now Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Vista can be used and run for 120 days or 4 months (3 rearms), and extending the activation grace period is not a violation of the Vista End User License Agreement (EULA). All versions of Vista include Windows Vista Ultimate allow a 30-day free period without activation, except the corporate-oriented Vista Enterprise, which supports only a three-day trial.
To extend, reset or restart the initial OOB grace period of Windows Vista to another 30 days, use the following steps:
- Click on Vista Start button and key in “Cmd” (without quotes) in Start Search box.
- Press on Ctrl-Shift-Enter to open Command Prompt with administrative credentials (equivalent to “Run as Administrator”).
- In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter when done:
slmgr -rearm
You can also use “sysprep /generalize” (without quotes).
- After a few seconds, the confirmation dialog window will appear.
- Reboot the computer.
- Rearm again when the remaining activation grace period timer counts down to 0 days.
Rearm option resets the computer’s activation timer and reinitializes some activation parameters.
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Entries (RSS)
December 19th, 2008 10:59
To use it for 360 days go here:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/11/06/use-rearm-and-skiprearm-to-delay-and-skip-vista-activation-almost-forever/
November 24th, 2008 12:49
[...] 60 day evaluation period may be reset (or re-armed) three times using the same procedure as with Windows Vista and Windows 7, effectively extend the original 60 day evaluation period by up to 180 days for a [...]
November 6th, 2008 00:46
[...] release, can only be used for 30 days maximum (probably can use for up to 120 days as similar with activation free period of Vista with 3 rearms available – see how to rearm for more details). People who is more nostalgia and [...]
November 6th, 2008 00:43
[...] 7 (SeVeN) is probably going to continue the trial software trend that starts with Windows Vista’s rearm, that user can install Windows 7 without any product key for free usage of 30 days as evaluation [...]
June 9th, 2008 20:03
[...] 2008 has free activation grace period which allows user to install and use the operating system for 120 days and 240 days without product key or product activation completed. The initial grace period given is [...]
March 16th, 2007 22:59
[...] that it’s possible to run Windows Vista without activation and without crack for up to 120 days with ReArm command to reset the initial grace period, with ReArm limit defaulted to 3 times. If you think 120 [...]